Means for lubricating spacebands



Dec. 6, 1949 E. E. ALM

MEANS FOR LUBRICATING SPACEBANDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1945 Dec. 6, 1949 E. E ALM MEANS FOR LUBRICATING SPACEBANDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1945 JOa Dec; 6, 1949 E. E. ALM

MEANS FOR LUBRICATING SPACEBANDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 17, 1945 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 EinarErik Alm, Stockholm, Sweden Application August L7, 1945, Serial No. 611,123. In Sweden April 27, 1940 4 Claims.

This invention relates to linecasting machines and particularlyto an apparatus 'forpreventing adhesion of type metal to the spacers which are placed between each word in the line to separate'the wordsevenly. Ina composed line consisting of matrices and spacers, that portion of each of the spacers, which has to secure the desired space between-adjacent matrices, is exposed between the matrices such that during the line-casting operation molten type metal will be forced-under high pressure against saidspacer portionevery time the spacer is used. Due to the repeated casting of the molten type metal against the-exposed portion ofthe spacer, hereinbelow termed the casting point, some of the metal eventually adheres to and accumulates on said casting point. If such accumulatedmetal is not removed at relatively short intervals, it will deteriorate the matrices as theyare introduced,

since the elevations-thus formed on the casting points will press against and deform the wall of the matrices.

In practice, various attempts have been made to prevent the iormation'oi such metal coating. Asiar as I am aware, the most efficient method hitherto known 7 consists in applying to the casting point a thin film. of lubricant, such as oil, which prevents adhesion of type metal. The apparatus hitherto used for applying the film of lubricant is constructed-in a manner such as to apply the lubricant to the spacer when'the latter has been released from its place and is dropping from the spacerbox. A lubricant applying member isprovided close to t -e path of downward movement of the'spacer in a-manner such that it comes into-contact with the spacer during the downward movement thereof and delivers a certain quantity of lubricant thereto. The apparatus referred to is, however, not entirely satisfactory in View :of the fact that lubricant is supplied to an unnecessary large portion or" the length of the spacer and the period of time available ior the applicaticnoi lubricant to the casting point is limited to a fraction of a second so that the quantity of lubricant delivered to the casting point is likely to be insufficient. If, for some reason or other, the lubricant supplying member is not in an exactly correct position relative to the dropping spacer, the spacer is likely, during its downward -movement, to act upon said member in a manner such that the member will not at all' come into contact with the casting point which, consequently, will not receive the lubricant required.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for automatically supplying lubricant exclusively or substantially exclusively to the cast ing point of the spacer. Aiurtherobject of the invention is to provide means-forrsupplying 1ubricant in a reliable. manner and at a .sufficient quantity.

It has provedhighly desirable-that the lubricant supplying'member should haveza length-considerably greater than-the vertical'extension' of the casting point. In various types of line-casting machines, the: spacerboxes are, as a matter-of fact, devised. and constructed in difierent manners. Asa result thereof, thecasting point on the" a'foremost spacer in the row of spacers may be located at varying levels relative to the lubricantsupplying member. This holds especially true of spacer boxes in which the spacers are not arranged in hanging position, but rest at their lower ends ona support where they are acted upon such as todropinto the-row of matrices. In this case, the sleeve provided at the upper endof each of-the standing spacers may by force of gravity descendalong-thespacer bar to a position determined bythe amount of friction between-the sleeve and the spacer -'bar. iThe-less said friction, the lower the-casting will be located, and vice-versa.

In order thatthe casting point always shall be in contact with the lubricant supplying member irrespective of variations in the level of the spacer sleeve, the length of the lubricant supplying member must, as stated above, be considerably greater than-the'verticalextensionof the casting point. However, there are arising-difficultiesin maintaining such relatively :long lubricant supplying member in itsentire extent in abutment with the spacer sleeve, espectially in view of thefact that the foremost spacer inthe spacerbox as a rule does .not assume a vertical position butasomewhat inclined positionwhich is different indifferent-types of spacer boxes.

it isa'still further objectcfthe invention-to provide means for maintaining the lubricant supplying member inv proper contact withthe casting point irrespective-of the positionoi .the spacer sleeve.

The casting point is, as :a rule, located immediately atone oi the lateraledges of the spacer slide and has theshape of a. spot located on both sidesof said edge and having anextent of about one sixteenth to one quarter ofan inch, I-tis, consequently, highly. desirable thatthelubricant supplying member be incontact with saidzedge, and it is a still further object of the invention to provide means for ensuringsuchicontactk In the accompanying drawings, I have .illustratedseveral embodiments of; my inventionas applied to a line-castingmachine. As to all;par.ts other than thoseillustratedthe machine maysbe of any suitableconstruction.

In the drawin s:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in sectiorrof .a spacer box of a line-castingmachine:withhang? ingspacers, one wall .Offthfi box being; omitted. Fig.2 is a ,frontrelevation oflthespacerbox. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of another embodimentxof my invention. Fig. 4 is :a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. '5 is a sectionthrough line -V- -V of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, to an enlarged scale, of a spacer in position between two matrices. Fig. 7 is a corresponding front elevation. Fig. 8 illustrates part of Fig. 1 with the lubricant supplying member in a position during the descending movement of the foremost of the spacers. Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of still another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 with the spacer sleeve in another position. Fig. 11 is a. corresponding front elevation of the spacer box; and Fig. 12 is a section through line XII-XII of Fig. 9.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, each spacer consists of a wedge-shaped spacer bar I and a wedgeshaped sleeve 2 displaceable along the bar I such that the outer limiting faces of the bar and sleeve always will be exactly parallel to the adjacent faces of the matrices 3 and When the spacer I, 2 is introduced between the matrices, the sleeve 2 will be stationary relative to the matrix 3,

whereas the spacer bar I is movable between the sleeve 2 and the other matrix 4. As a result thereof, the stationary sleeve 2 will be subject to adhesion of type metal, whereas the movable spacer bar I, although type metal is forced against it, will remain clean. In Fig. 7, the hatched portion denoted at 6 represents the location of the casting point on the sleeve 2. Said casting point is to be protected against adhesion of molten type metal.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the protecting apparatus comprises a carrier 7 devised as an inverted pendulum and provided with a pad 8 of felt or similar material wet with oil or other suitable lubricant and constituting the lubricant supplying member referred to above. The carrier 1, by its own weight, maintains the pad 8 in even contact with the sleeve 2 of the spacer I which is hanging foremost in the spacer row 9. The pad 8 is exactly abutting against the casting point onthe sleeve. The carrier '1 has a portion which extends inwardly through an opening I in the cover II] of the spacer box. The carrier is hollow and rests loosely on a shoulder of a member II secured to the outside of the cover II). A spring I2 secured to the member II engages a groove I3 in the carrier 1 and thereby prevents unintentional removal of the carrier from the member II, since, in order to remove the carrier, the spring must be swung out of engagement with the groove I3. Due to the fact that the pad is always kept in even abutment against the sleeve 2, the supply of a sufficient quantity of lubricant to the casting point is ensured. When the spacer I, 2, in a manner known per se, is released from its inclined hanging position and, consequently, acts upon the carrier I so as to swing said carrier outwards, as shown in Fig. 8, such swinging movement will not cause any noticeable resistance to the downward movement of the spacer, since the carrier is very easily movable about its lower edge. In addition thereto, the force acting between the spacer and the carrier decreases as the carrier is swung up towards vertical position. As a result thereof, the pressure between the spacer and the pad 8 will be extremely small and will thus not hinder the free falling movement of the spacer. As will be evident from the drawing, the pad 8 constitutes the exclusive support for the carrier in the direction perpendicular to the plane of abutment between the pad and the sleeve.

In Figs. 3 to 5, I have illustrated a modified embodiment in which the pad carrier la is constructed as a hanging pendulum. The hollow or channel-like carrier rests freely swingably on the upper face Nb of a member Ila secured to the outer side of the cover I0. As will be clearly seen, the pad Ba will always be in even abutment against the sleeve 2 of the foremost spacer I hanging in position for release. When the spacer has been released and is swinging the carrier outwards, the pad 8a will continue for some time to abut against the sleeve 2 and to ensure the supply of lubricant thereto until the sleeve comes out of contact with the pad. In the present instance, the pressure between the sleeve 2 and the carrier Ia will increase somewhat as the carrier is swung outwards, but this increase of the pressure is very small and does not noticeably affect the falling movement of the spacer. It may be, however, that, in this respect, the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is more preferable.

The cover III on the front side of the spacer box is devised in such a manner that it can be removed from the spacer box together with the pad carrier and again attached to the box by a simple hand-movement. To this end, the cover has near its upper left-hand corner an upwardly open slot I6 adapted to receive a pin I'I secured to the spacer box (Fig. 2). When the cover is to be attached to the box, the pin I1 is brought to engage the slot I6, and the cover can then be adjusted, by means of a handle I8, into a position in which the lower bevelled edge Illa of the cover registers with a corresponding edge on the spacer box. Due to the fact that the cover can be entirely removed from the spacer box, the

latter becomes freely accessible to its entire width from the outside. When being removed from the box, the cover must be slightly displaced and swung so as to come out of engagement with the pin II. In order to prevent the carrier 1a of the device shown in Figs. 3 to 5 from impinging upon the frame 20 of the box when being removed from the box, the carrier has a bevelled vertical portion I9 which is located in such a manner relative to the frame 20 of the box that if it impinges upon the frame during the displacement of the cover III, the carrier will be swung outwardly out of contact with the frame. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, such a risk does not arise, since the standing carrier I, in this case, will swing outwards without resistance.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, numeral 2| denotes the forward portion of the spacer box which provides a guide groove 22 for the lateral shoulders 24 of the spacer sleeve 23. In this instance, the spacer bar 25 is resting at its lower end on a support 26. The pad or lubricant supplying member 27 is mounted on a carrier 28 which is freely movable in the opening 29 provided in the cover 30 of the spacer box. The carrier 28 is constructed as a rectangular tube loosely mounted on the member 3| and resting at its lower outer edge 32 on a shoulder 33 of the member 3| such as by its own Weight to maintain the pad 21 in proper contact with the sleeve 23. In order to prevent unintentional removal of the carrier from the member 3|, a resilient ball 34 is mounted in the member SI and projects somewhat out therefrom. When the carrier is mounted on the member 3|, the ball 34 snaps into an opening 35 in one of the walls of the carrier.

The pad 21 is located at the upper open end of the carrier 28 between the side walls thereof and abuts against a metal strip or holder 36 the upper end of which is shaped as a hook 31 which loosely catches hold of the upper edge of the carrier 28 so that the strip 36 can be swung, through a small angle, about said edge. The lower portion of the strip is advantageously bent back as at 38, and through a threaded opening in said portion there is threaded a screw 39 the spherical head of which is accessible to a screwdriver from the outside through an opening 40 in the wall of the carrier, said opening being smaller than the diameter of the screw head so as to retain the screw within the carrier. Between the lower portion 38 of the strip 36 and the left-hand wall of the carrier, a helical spring 4| is inserted around the screw 39 so as to maintain the screw head in contact with the inner edge of the opening 40. When the screw 39 is unscrewed, the strip 36 will be swung about the hook 31 towards the left as viewed in Fig. 9, and as a result thereof, the lower edge of the pad 21 will be moved towards the sleeve 23. If the screw is screwed in, the lower edge of the pad will be removed from the sleeve. In this way, the pad can be easily adjusted with high precision so as to abut against the sleeve 23 in exactly parallel relation thereto. This parallel relation will practically not be changed even if the inclination of the spacer should vary. This is due to the fact that the swingable pad carrier will follow the change in inclination and thereby compensate for same. As will appear from Figs. 9 and 10, the pad 21 is sufficiently long to remain in contact with the casting point on the sleeve 23 irrespective of variations in the vertical position of the sleeve, the casting point being diagrammatically indicated by the line 45.

As will be seen from Fig. 12, the cross-section of the pad 21 is not rectangular, but trapezoidal such that the abutting face of the pad is not parallel but located at a very small angle or relative to the corresponding face of the sleeve, the point of said angle being located on the edge of the sleeve. In this way, a reliable contact is ensured between the pad and that edge of the sleeve where the casting point is located.

In spacer boxes for standing spacers and provided with guide grooves 22, as exemplified in the present embodiment, the triangular member 43 which forms one of the sides of the groove 22, is secured to, or made integral with, the cover which, in this case, should be rigidly fixed to the box without being removable together with the pad and pad carrier. To this end, the cover consists of two parts one arranged above the other, the upper part 44 being rigidly secured to the spacer box, whereas the lower part is removably attached in a sim lar manner as described with reference to the foregoing embodiments. The lower part of the cover has a pro ection 46 which facilitates the adiustment of said part in pro er position relative to the frame of the s acer box.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction illustrated and described which may be modified in various manners within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a line-casting machine. a spacer box, a substantially vertical front cover for said box. a row of spacers in inclined positions in said box, each spacer comprising a spacer bar and a spacer sleeve, each sleeve having a surface exposed to molten type metal in the operation of the machine, means for supplying lubricant tosaid surface of the spacer sleeve located foremost in said row of spacers, a carrier for said lubricant supplying means, and means for adjusting said lubricant supplying means relative to said carrier such as to ensure even cont-act between said sleeve and said lubricant supplying means irrespective of variations in the inclination of said spacers.

2. In a line-casting machine, a spacer box, a substantially vertical front cover for said box, a row of spacers in inclined positions in said box, each spacer comprising a spacer bar and a spacer sleeve, each sleeve having a surface exposed to molten type metal in the operation of the machine, means for supplying lubricant to said surface of the spacer sleeve located foremost in said row of spacers, a carrier for said lubricant supplying means, a holder for said lubricant supplying means, said holder being swingably mounted in said carrier, and a screw-device for adjusting said holder in said carrier.

3. In a line-casting machine, a spacer box, a substantially vertical front cover for said box, a row of spacers in inclined positions in said box, each spacer comprising a spacer bar and a spacer sleeve, each sleeve having a surface exposed to molten type metal in the operation of the machine, means for supplying lubricant to said surface of the spacer sleeve located foremost in said row of spacers, a carrier for said lubricant supplying means, a holder for said lubricant supplying means, said holder being near its upper end swingably mounted in said carrier, and a screw device associated with said carrier and adapted to cooperate with the lower end of said holder to vary the angle of inclination of said holder and said lubricant supplying means.

4. In a line-casting machine, a spacer box, a substantially vertical front cover for said box, a row of spacers in inclined positions in said box, each spacer comprising a spacer bar and a spacer sleeve, each sleeve having a surface exposed to molten type metal in the operation of the machine, means for supplying lubricant to said surface of the spacer sleeve located foremost in said row of spacers, a hollow carrier for said lubricant supplying means, a holder for said lubricant supplying means, said holder being near its upper end swingably mounted in said carrier, a screw associated with said carrier and adapted to cooperate with the lower end of said holder to vary the angle of inclination of said holder and said lubricant supplying means, a head on said screw, an opening in the wall of said carrier, and resilient means for maintaining said screw head in contact with the inner edge of said opening, the width of said open ng being smaller than the diameter of said screw head.

EINAR ERIK ALM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,078,049 Knap Nov. 11, 1913 1,108.826 Armstrong Aug. 25, 1914 2,168,411 Kellar Aug. 8, 1939 2,288,945 Fuller July '7, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 269,772 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1927 602,261 Germany Sept. 5, 1934 

